SCHOOLS in Northern Ireland are "sleepwalking into disaster" it has been warned, as pupils prepare to return to the classroom this week amid the Omicron wave of Covid-19.
Staff and parents fear schools could be forced to shut again within a short period, while one principal has warned that the sacrifices made over Christmas by some families to remain safe will have been "in vain" as their children return to sit beside classmates whose families may not have followed safety guidance.
Omicron fears have prompted a last-minute change to guidance for English schools, with pupils being asked to wear face coverings when the new term begins, while in the Republic, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has warned that some schools due to reopen could be forced to shut again due to staffing pressures.
However, schools in the north also face "extreme pressure" from Omicron, the SDLP's education spokesperson Daniel McCrossan said.
He spoke out as the principal of St Cecilia's College in Derry expressed concerns for her pupils in a weekend social media post.
Principal Martine Mulherne wrote: "If the current trend of Covid cases continue it is highly probable that an immediate return to school after festivities may result in an immediate lose of staff (illness or self isolation periods) with no possibility of replacing them due to the shortage of substitute teachers."
She added of pupils mixing upon their return: "All of the sacrifice of families with vulnerable members may well have been in vain."
Stormont Education Committee member Mr McCrossan told the Irish News: "Over the Christmas period we have heard numerous concerns from principals and parents about the situation around returning to schools. Given the high prevalence of Covid-19 in our community many are worried about how pupils and staff are going to be protected from the virus. That pupils are set to return this week and we have had silence from DUP Education Minister Michelle McIlveen is nothing short of a disgrace."
Mr McCrossan said he called upon the DUP education minister to take "preventative action" before the Christmas break.
"We are going to see large numbers of staff forced into self-isolation and a knock on effect on pupils and their families as the virus continues to spread," the MLA said, adding: "We are currently sleepwalking into a disaster and our schools are crying out for leadership from the minister."
A spokesperson for the Department of Education told the Irish News last night: "The minister wrote to schools before Christmas and this was followed by a letter from the Permanent Secretary on Friday setting out mitigations which are in place to help support school leaders, teachers, staff and pupils. Throughout the pandemic the department has worked closely with education practitioners and trade unions, the Department of Health and Public Health Agency as we manage our response and continues to do so."
They added: "As an important mitigating measure ahead of the new term, we are encouraging schools to ask all staff and post-primary pupils to take a lateral flow test within 24 hours of their return to school in January."
